King’s College London has won access to Google Quantum AI’s Willow processor through a National Quantum Computing Centre initiative, giving a UK-led team rare hardware for experiments linking quantum computing and computational neuroscience.
The project, announced May 28 after a proposals call launched in December 2025, will model quantum analogues of neurons and compare simulated neural networks with classical approaches.
Dr Eleanor Crane of King’s and Dr Alexander Schuckert of ENS Paris lead the work with UCL’s Chris Timmermann, while Google Quantum AI and the NQCC will help design experiments and provide technical support.
The NQCC said this is the first time Google has partnered with a British government institution to provide access to Willow, a processor King’s described as among the few systems globally able to handle such simulations.
Beyond brain-inspired models, the team says the research could sharpen quantum methods for studying interacting systems with longer-term relevance for materials, energy, solar cells and drug discovery.
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UK Quantum Milestone: KCL Secures Early Access to Google Willow Processor, Pioneering Quantum Neuroscience and National Innovation
Overview
King's College London (KCL) has become the first UK academic institution to gain early access to Google’s advanced Willow quantum processor, thanks to a collaborative initiative with Google Quantum AI and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). This partnership is a key part of the UK government’s broader strategy to foster innovation in quantum technologies, supported by significant national investment. By connecting KCL’s research ambitions with cutting-edge hardware and national policy, the UK aims to turn theoretical quantum capabilities into real-world applications, strengthening its position in the global quantum race.